Coronavirus sparks dispute in Kosovo, interior minister sacked

Medical workers transport a patient who is suspected of carrying the novel coronavirus in a hospital in Pristina, Kosovo, March 16, 2020. (Photo by Reuters)

Kosovo's prime minister has dismissed the interior minister following a dispute over whether the country should declare a state of emergency to contain the spread of coronavirus.

The dispute trigger was Interior Minister AgimVeliu’s support for a proposal made by President HashimThaci late on Tuesday to declare the state of emergency. Prime Minister AlbinKurtihad rejected the suggestion, arguing that such a drastic measure was not necessary.

Veliu publicly opposed the prime minister and said that his party, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), would back the president.

"In these circumstances I am obliged to act and I have decided to dismiss the interior minister Veliu," the premier said in a press statement.

The sacking of Veliu may bring down the newly-formed government.

"Unilateral decisions by the prime minister are harmful, unacceptable and will lead to the collapse of the coalition," Isa Mustafa, the head of the LDK and a partner in the ruling coalition, wrote on Facebook.

Kosovo has recorded 19 cases of coronavirus since last Friday, when the first case was reported there.

The country has already shut its borders as well as all schools, flights and restaurants, allowing only supermarkets and pharmacies to remain open.

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